The army still gets the chance to play in a bowl game.
The Knights were unable to find an opponent for a bowl game coming out over the weekend, but it was announced on Monday that they would face West Virginia in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 31.
Tennessee was originally scheduled to play in the game, but had to drop out earlier Monday after receiving multiple positive COVID-19 tests among players and coaches, including head coach Jeremy Pruitt.
Army (9-2) had a primary agreement to play in the Independence Bowl, but the game was canceled on Sunday after multiple teams opted out of postseason games.
Army coach Jeff Monken told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg that players were in tears on Sunday when they were notified of the cancellation, believing their season would end without the chance to play another game. Monday night “they absolutely went bananas” when they heard they were going to be in a bowl game, Monken said during a performance on Freddie & Fitzsimmons on ESPN Radio.
“They were desperate for a chance to play again,” Monken said before adding, “I was just humbled that people would think that a lot of our team and our young men would be advocates for them. “Our players cannot defend this. For themselves. They just have to accept what is being offered. To have people who believe in them and who value this attitude and this program so much is really humbling.”